Feel-good factor has returned at Villa, says in-form forward Malen

Donyell Malen believes the feel-good issue has returned to Aston Villa forward of their conflict with native rivals Wolves within the Premier League this Sunday.

After beginning their top-flight season with three factors from their opening 5 video games, Villa have received six of their final seven league matches, with their solely defeat coming to Liverpool.

Unai Emery’s group additionally strengthened their possibilities of qualifying robotically for the Europa League knockout levels following a 2-1 victory over Younger Boys in midweek.

Malen’s first-half brace proved sufficient, with the Dutchman now Villa’s prime scorer throughout all competitions in 2025-26, having discovered the again of the online six occasions in 18 outings.

“I really feel good,” Malen mentioned. “As a group, we performed effectively, we created a variety of alternatives. I ought to have in all probability scored two extra if I’m actually sincere, nevertheless it’s a superb feeling.

“We needed to be targeted. They’re not a nasty group, and we needed to do what we may do. We created a variety of probabilities within the first half and even second half to get an even bigger rating.

“We’ve got to go recreation by recreation. In fact, the Premier League is a giant competitors, however that is additionally a really large competitors for us.”

Malen’s haul of objectives has come from simply seven begins, although Emery urged the in-form Villa ahead to construct on his current type to earn an everyday beginning spot.

“One month in the past, he demanded that I modify him as a result of he was drained. Progressively, he has been getting match,” Emery informed reporters in midweek.

“He’s getting numbers, which is incredible. He’s actually performing effectively. Now, preserve going.”

goodnight villans pic.twitter.com/9B6hBFKSy4

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 27, 2025

Wolves, in the meantime, they await a primary win within the Premier League continued final week as Rob Edwards’ first recreation in cost ended with a 2-0 defeat at residence to Crystal Palace.

It was largely a much-improved show from Wolves, who completed with an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of 1.8 from their eight pictures to Palace’s 1.3 from their 10 makes an attempt.

However solely certainly one of Wolves’ efforts was heading in the right direction, which means they grew to become the primary group since Newcastle United in 2021-22 (14 video games) to win any of their first 12 top-flight matches.

Nevertheless, Edwards believes a win over their rivals may very well be the catalyst to ignite their season, although the Wolves boss acknowledged the problem of his group having the ability to take action.

“Final week I spoke about realism. There’s a perception there that we are able to dig ourselves out of this place. But additionally, there’s a realism that it’s by no means been performed earlier than,” Edwards mentioned.

“I hope we are able to get that first victory immediately and in a giant recreation like this. It’d be an effective way to start out that off, however Villa Park can also be a troublesome place to go – everybody finds that.

“They’re a tremendous soccer membership, an enormous membership, who’re doing rather well in the meanwhile, with a superb supervisor in place, however we’ve bought to take care of ourselves.

“We’ve had a superb week to date to get a plan collectively, however we’re going to should be a nine-and-a-half out of 10 to get one thing from the sport – however we’re able to that.

“We’ve bought to go there with zero concern, with bravery and with the assumption that Sunday goes to be the day that we are able to get that first victory.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers

Morgan Rogers has been concerned in 5 objectives in his final seven Premier League video games for Villa (three objectives, two assists), as he continues to rediscover his type from 2024-25.

Final day out towards Leeds, he scored his first brace within the competitors, in addition to scoring from his first-ever try from a direct free-kick.

Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen

No participant has scored greater than as soon as for Wolves throughout their 12 video games to date within the Premier League this season, however Jorgen Strand Larsen nonetheless poses his group’s greatest risk.

He has three objectives in all competitions this time period from an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of two.5, and Edwards can be hoping his quantity 9 can encourage his group to victory.

Solely 4 sides have had an extended wait from the beginning of a marketing campaign for a participant to attain twice – Bradford Metropolis (15 video games in 2000-01), Huddersfield City (13 in 2018-19), Tottenham (13 in 2006-07) and Wimbledon (13 in 1994-95).

MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN

Villa have received their final two residence league video games towards Wolves, having received simply certainly one of their earlier 9 towards them at Villa Park (D5 L3), and that run is anticipated to proceed right here.

That’s as a result of Emery’s group have misplaced simply certainly one of their final 24 Premier League residence video games (W15 D8), taking place 3-0 towards Crystal Palace in August.

They’ve additionally received all 4 of their Premier League video games performed instantly after taking part in in Europe in midweek this season, the one aspect with a 100% successful document to date.

Wolves, in the meantime, have received simply certainly one of their 14 top-flight video games towards Villa between 1980 and 2012 (7%). Since each groups have been again within the Premier League (2019), they’ve received six of their 12 towards their rivals (50%).

They’re additionally winless in all 12 of their Premier League video games this season, selecting up simply two factors. It’s the third-lowest factors complete 12 video games right into a season in English top-flight historical past after Manchester United in 1930-31 (0) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (one).

However Wolves’ issues haven’t solely been this season. They’re with out a win of their final 16 Premier League video games (D3 L13), together with 5 consecutive defeats.

It’s their longest winless run within the competitors since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018, with that run additionally containing the final time they misplaced six in a row in the identical season (seven between March and April 2012), leaving Edwards with a variety of work to do.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Aston Villa – 72.7%

Draw – 15.8%

Wolves – 11.5%